Blade dispensing magazine



`july 28, 1953 N. TESTI 2,646,874

' BLADE: DISPENSING MAGAZINE Filed Aug. 8, 1947 Z0 ZZ Patented July 28, 1953 BLADE msrENsING MAGAZINE Nicholas Testi, Boston, Mass., assignor to The Gillette Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application August 8, 1947, Serial No. 767,592

This invention comprises a new and improved magazine for dispensing sharp-edged blades such as safety razor blades, of the type in which the blades may be separated and delivered, one at a time, by simple manipulation.

It has been found that the fine cutting edge of a safety razor blade is so delicate in structure that it is likely to be easily damaged by any chance contact occurring before actual use of the blade. It is desirable therefore that the manufacturer, who is best qualied to produce the fine cutting edge, should also package and protect the blades as they are finished in order to insure that the blade shall reach the user with its edge unimpaired and in the same finished condition imparted to it by the manufacturer.

The magazine of the present invention is designed to contain and safely dispense unwrapped blades, thus obviating the slight but actual risk that the blade edge may be impaired by contact with the paper of an envelope or other individual Wrapper and saving the user the time and annoyance of removing a wrapper from the blade.

A characteristic feature of the magazine of vthe present invention is that it contains no normally open exit slot but on the contrary encloses both ends of the blade stack between irnperforated end walls and thus positively prevents accidental emergence of a blade from the magazine. cludes a movable cover which must be shifted from its normal position by rocking, or otherwise, to provide exit passage for a blade. In other words, the user must carry out a calculated manipulation of the cover to prepare for the withdrawal of a blade and thus theY danger of cutting himself is practically eliminated.

Another feature of the invention consists in the combination of a rocking 4cover with a convex spring by which the blade stack may be pressed against the cover and the cover held in normally closed position while the spring supplies a supporting fulcrum about which both the blades and the cover may be rocked. When so rocked the cover is lifted at one end. Open passage is provided for the uppermost blade `of the stack and the cover itself acts as a guide and shield for directing the blade as it emerges from the magazine. The spring also serves to retain the partially-ejected blade yieldingly in convenient position for the user to grasp and remove.

As herein shown and as an optional feature of the invention, the magazine is provided with :slots at opposite points in two cf its walls through which an elongated spring retainer may be temporarily inserted .for the purpose of depressing As herein shown, the magazine in- 14 Claims. (Cl. 20G-16) and holding the spring in flattened condition, thus providing free space within the enclosure of the magazine in which the blades may be placed by hand or automatic machinery. The magazine may be thus fully loaded While the spring is maintained in flattened and inoperative position. The cover may then be put in Vplace and nally the spring retainer withdrawn and the spring thus permitted to lift the blade stack into yielding engagement with the inner face of the cover.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of the magazine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the magazine in longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing the parts of the magazine in exploded relation; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing one end of the magazine.

The magazine comprises a rectangular shell I Il having upstanding side and end walls and a movable cover. From the bottom of the shell project a pair of narrow studs II-I2. These are aligned with each other in the median axis of the shell and are spaced apart by a substantial distance. They are long and narrow in cross-section and of the proper width to fit with clearance into the slots of the blades to be contained in the magazine. The side walls are provided centrally with notches I3 and IllV to accommodate portions of the cover and slots I5 and I6 are provided in the opposite ends of the shell for the reception of a spring-retaining device, as will be presently explained.

Within the shell III is located a forked spring I1 having anV upwardly convex center portion which provides a supporting fulcrum for a stack of blades I8 contained Within the magazine. The spring is formed of flat stock and forked at both ends to provide clearance for the studs I I and I2 as well shown in Fig. 4 and its center portion is convexed upwardly and longitudinally scored.

The cover 20 of the magazine is rectangular in outline and of such size as to fit with slight clearance between the upstanding walls of the shell I0. It is provided with laterally-extending ears 2l at both sides which are shaped to fill with clearance the notches I3 and I4 in the side walls of the shell and thus serve as trunnions by which the cover is sustained midway between the ends of the magazine for limited rocking movement. The ears 2l are extended nrst outwardly and then downwardly and are provided at the lower edges with inturned flanges which hook beneath the shell lil and hold the cover in place. There is sufficient spring in the material of the cover so that the ears may snap into place after the magazine has been loaded and thereafter permanently connecting the rocking cover with the shell lil.

The cover 20 is provided with a centrally disposed thumb-opening 22 of oval outline and substantial area. This opening merges at its op'- posite ends into slots 23 and 2li located inthe major axis of the cover and of such shape and width as to receive the studs H and i2 with clearance. It will be understood that the studs normally extend into and at least part-way' through the slots 23 and 24.

For use in loading the magazine and for the purpose of temporarily holding the" spring Vl in flat position,` an elongated U-shape'd spring retain'er 25' is provided This {J1-shaped retainer, as shown in Fig. 4, is formed of wire and of such size and shape that it may be inserted through the slots I5 and H5, straddling the studs H and I2, rst depressing and then holding the spring il' in flattened condition. The retainer is shown in operative position in Fig. e, and while it occupies that position a stack of blades may be placed in the shell le of the magazine in the fre-e space above the flattened spring.

The magazine herein shown is adapted to contain double-edged safety razor blades of a well known commercial type, that is to say, blades provided with a longitudinal median slot 25 and local enlargements which nt the blade-locating projections of the various razors in which the blades are to be eventually used.

The blades have also corner notches which dei-lne elongated unsharpened end portions. While the spring I7 is held depressed, a stack of blades may be supplied to the shell of the magazine by hand or by automatic feeding means and arranged with alternate blades in longitudinally staggered relation, that is to say, alternate blades are empaled upon the stud H and intermediate blades upon the stud i2. After theV stack of blades has been duly supplied to the magazine and the cover 2G snapped into place, the spring retainer 25 may be withdrawn endwise, thus releasing the spring Il and permitting it to rise and press the stack of blades upwardly against the inner surface of the cover 2i?. Inasmuch as the cover is symmetrically mounted, the upward pressure of the blades tends to hold it y'ieldingly in level position as shown in Fig'. l. In this position the cover closes both ends of the magazine and the studs lll and l2 enter' substantially ill the slots- 23 and 2li of the cover. Preferably each blade is provided on its exposed face with a direction indicator, for example an arrow' 2?, and the blades so arranged inl their stacked formation that the indicator of the exposed blade informs the user which way the blade must be moved to eject it from the'magazine.

When now the user desires to remove a blade from the magazine he has only to observe the direction of the arrow, to depress the cover lifting that end to which the arrow points, to e'ngage the blade with his thumb and advance it in that direction. As the cover is depressed, one end is elevated to provide an exit opening above the corresponding end wall of the shell ii). this tilting movement the cover is lifted so that it is carried above the end of the stud Il or l2 as the case may be. As the cover is depressed, the whole stack of blades is rocked upon its fulcrum with the cover and the uppermost blade in the stack is advanced in sliding contact with the inner face of the cover and so guided out of the magazine.

In Fig. 5 the cover 2s is shown as rocked to open the right-hand end of the magazine and to clear the stud I2 for the outward passage of a blade I8r which in this view is shown as partially removed'. The user may advance the blade with his thumb until it projects beyond the end of the magazine by about half its length. T.t is then yieldingly retained in position by the spring pressure of the cover 2i) but may be conveniently grasped and readily and completely removed and placed by the user in his razor.

As herein shown the cover 2i) is provided with a shallow transverse rib 2S at each end of its under face. These ribs reinforce the cover against warping and furnish guiding means for directing an ejected blade in its outward course. It will be understood that there is substantial clearance between the edges of the ears '2l' and the sides of the notches I3 and icl which clearance permits the cover toA rock sufficiently to provide a blade-exit opening at one end or the other. of the magazine. The action of the spring Ii against the blade stack also li'its the cover 2b and holds the inturned iianges of the ears 2| in contact with the bottom of the magazine in a yielding manner.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail an illustrative embodiment thereof, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A blade dispensing magazine comprising a walled base, and a nat cover pivotally mounted to rock within the walls of the base and having a thumb opening merging into median slots at both ends, in combination with a of slotted blades supported yieldingly for rocking movement in contactv with the inner face of the cover, and studs passing with clearance for longitudinal movement through the slots of the blade stack and into the median slots of the cover.

2. A blade dispensing magazine comprising a walled nase having aligned upstanding blade` locating studs, a hat cover pivotally mounted on the side walls of the base intermediate the ends thereof, tting with clearance between the end walls of the base and shaped to close both ends of the magazine in cooperation with said vif-alias. spring having a convex portion acting a fulcrum over which the cover may be ron ed to open either end of the magazine, and means ior holding the cover in closed position.

3. A- blade dispensing magazi; e comprising a rectangular base with upstanding walls and spaced upstanding studs, a hat cover pivotally mounted on the side walls of the base intermediate the ends thereof, fitting with clearance between the walls of the base, shaped to close both ends of the magazine in cooperation with the end walls of the base and having an intermediate thumb opening and median slots into which said studs project, a spring having a convex portion serving as a fulcruin over which the cover may be rocked to clear one or other of said studs, and means for holding the cover in closed position.

Li. n blade dispensing magazine comprising a shell having side walls and a substantially flat bottoni, a cover pivotally connected to said shell midway between the ends thereof, and blade retaining studs within the shell adjacent each end thereof, said studs having upright blade-engaging faces and normallycooperating with the cover to retain slotted blades'in position within the shell by passing into the blade slots and extending to the inner face of the cover, said cover having slots therein to accommodate said studs and being free to rock from a closed position parallel to said bottom to an open position inclined to said bottom, and means in said cover for removing the blades one at a time from the magazine.

5. A blade dispensing magazine comprising a rectangular shell with a bottom, walls and a cover, said cover being connected to the shell for limited rocking movement, 4a forked convex spring resting on the bottom, a stack of slotted blades balanced on the spring, and flat sided studs rising from the bottom of the magazine and extending upwardly between the forks of the spring and through the slots of the blades themselves, the cover when rocked in either direction forming a blade-exit opening above one end wall of the shell.

6. A blade dispensing magazine comprising a shell with upstanding walls, a cover, means pivotally mounting said cover centrally from the walls for rocking movement about a transverse axis, the cover normally closing the shell and when elevated at one end forming a blade-exit opening at an end wall of the shell, a stack of blades within the shell, and a spring pressing the blades against the under face of the cover and holding the uppermost blade in guiding face contact with the cover during dispensing when the latter is rocked to open one end of the shell.

7. A blade dispensing magazine comprising a rectangular shell having a bottom, side and end walls, the end walls having therein oppositely disposed slots near their lower edges, and a convex spring resting on the bottom and adapted to be temporarily attened, a spring-retaining device inserted through said slots in engagement with the upper face of the spring and holding it in ilattened condition.

8. A blade dispensing magazine comprising a rectangular shell having a bottom, side and end walls, the side walls being recessed at opposite points substantially centrally in their upper edges, a cover having symmetrically located ears resting in said recesses, a spring having a centrally disposed convex portion located substantially beneath the center of the cover, and a stack of slotted blades held by the spring against the inner face of the cover, the cover and blades being arranged to rock together upon the spring as a fulcrum, whereby the uppermost blade of the stack may be advanced outwardly over one end wall of the shell while held yieldingly in guiding Contact with the cover.

9. A blade dispensing magazine comprising a shell having side and end walls and a bottom, a cover normally closing the top of the shell at both ends, means connecting the cover to the shell for rocking movement about a transverse axis, a convex spring resting on the bottom of the shell, and a stack of blades pressed upwardly and centrally by the spring against the cover and normally lying below the end walls of the shell, depression of the cover at one end serving to tilt the uppermost blade of the stack in a path directed above the end wall at the other end of the shell.

10. A blade-dispensing magazine comprising an elongated shell having parallel side walls, a cover suspended at opposite sides between said walls, an upwardly convex spring located Within the shell, and a stack of blades balanced substantially symmetrically upon said spring and pressed by it upwardly against the cover on both sides of its points of suspension, thereby holding it normally in level position.

11. A blade-dispensing magazine comprising an elongated shell having parallel side walls and lend walls, a cover, means for suspending the cover centrally above the side walls for limited rocking movement thereby opening the shell at one end and simultaneously closing the shell at the other, a convex support located centrally within the shell, and a stack of blades within the shell engaged between said support and cover and arranged to be tilted by rocking movement of the cover.

12. A blade-dispensing magazine comprising a shell having parallel side walls and end walls, a cover having centrally located hooked arms pivot-ally connecting the cover to opposite sides of the magazine and positively limiting separating movement of the cover and shell to the provision of a blade-exit opening at one or the other end of the magazine, a spring within the shell, and a stack of blades engaged by the spring at an intermediate position and forced against the cover, thus placing the said arms under tension.

13. A blade dispensing magazine comprising an elongated shell having a cover, means pivotally connecting the cover to the shell intermediate the ends of the shell for rocking movement of the cover about a transverse axis, a convex spring within the shell and extending to each side of said means and acting as a fulcrum in substantially vertical alignment with said means, and a stack of blades balanced on the spring within the shell and pressed against the cover by the spring for rocking movement with the cover, and means in said cover for removing the blades one at a time from said magazine.

14. A blade dispensing magazine comprising an elongated shell having a movable cover, means pivotally connecting the cover midway between its ends to the shell for rocking movement about a centrally located transverse axis, a convex spring within the shell and extending to each side of said means and acting as a fulcrum in substantially vertical alignment with said means, and a stack or" blades balanced between its ends on the spring and pressed thereby into engagement with the cover on both sides of its axis thereby holding the cover in a substantially level position in the shell, and means in said cover for removing the blades one at a time from said magazine.

NICHOLAS TESTI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 544,462 Crocker Aug. 13, 1895 1,377,379 Williams May 10, 1921 1,574,752 Bernier Mar. 2, 1926 2,200,752 Kuhnl May 14, 1940 2,222,245 Steen Nov. 19, 1940 2,311,173 Hill Feb. 16, 1943 2,330,252 Testi Sept. 28, 1943 2,344,961 Benjamin Mar. 28, 1944 2,376,206 Testi May 15, 1945 2,418,677 Testi Apr. 8, 1947 2,472,871 Williamson June 14, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 486,367 Great Britain June 2, 1938 

